Rev. Victor A. Derwinski

The Rev. Victor A. Derwinski, Pastor Emeritus of St. Mary's Church, Aurora, Nebraska, died Monday, April 11, 2005 at Memorial Community Care in Aurora.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Aurora, Nebraska at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, April 14th. The Most Reverend Fabian W. Bruskewitz, Bishop of Lincoln, will officiate. A Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Rev. Bishop of Scranton, on Friday, April 15th. Interment, St. Michael's Cemetery, Simpson, Pennsylvania. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: REV. VICTOR A. DERWINSKI

Victor A. Derwinski, was born on February 22, 1918, in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. He was the son of the late Michael & Mary (Budjack) Derwinski. He was a graduate of Fell High School, Simpson, Pennsylvania and the University of Scranton. He continued studies in Philosophy at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, MD; and completed theology studies at SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake, Michigan.

Father Derwinski was ordained to the priesthood on December 27, 1944 at St. Thomas Orphanage Chapel, Lincoln, Neb. by Bishop L.B. Kucera, D.D. for the Diocese of Lincoln.

Following his ordination, Father Derwinski served as assistant pastor of Sts. Peter & Paul, Falls City, Neb; St. Wenceslaus, Wahoo, Neb.; and served pastorates at St. Francis, Center, Neb; St. Vincent's & St. Andrew's Mission, St. Mary's, Osceola, Neb.; St. Joseph's, Harvard, Neb., St. Joseph's, Giltner, Neb.; St. Mary's, Aurora, Neb.

Father Derwinski celebrated his 60th anniversary of Ordination in December. During his service he helped oversee the building of three churches and two rectories. He retired from active ministry in 1994 and remained in Aurora for the next ten years enjoying his parishioners and friends.

He was chaplin of the Knights of Columbus, Aurora; where he was a 4th Degree Knight.

He is survived by a sister: Melvina Kozuch, Simpson; 9 nieces & nephews and 9 great nieces & nephews.

He was preceded in death by two brothers: Leo & Edward Derwinski.